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The golf courses in Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands are groomed and ready to challenge enthusiasts. More than a dozen courses provide variations for golfers of all skill levels and budgets. From quick-play executive courses to country club quality resort terrain, golfers can enjoy challenging runs with captivating views and tremendous character.

The Ohio Historical Markers program encompasses 1,479 unique markers that tell the state’s history as written by its communities. There are more than 40 markers in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands alone. Markers are erected by local community sponsors in partnership with the Ohio History Connection and describe the people, places, things, and events of Ohio’s past. Here are a few of the most notable in the region, along with their official descriptions.

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Oak Harbor, Ohio.

Huron
#16-22 The Huron Playhouse – Ohio’s oldest continuing summer theatre, the Huron Playhouse has been housed at McCormick Middle School for its entire history. Dr. Frederick G. Walsh (1915-1999) of the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Speech Department founded the theatre in 1949. Huron met Walsh’s expectations for an attractive site for the playhouse, and Huron Schools Superintendent R.L. McCormick (1904-1978) offered the use of this school. The curtain opened on the first Huron Playhouse production, Norman Krasna’s hit Broadway comedy John Loves Mary, on June 29, 1949.

Lakeside
#15-62 Lakeside – “The Chautauqua of Lake Erie” – Established in 1873, Lakeside is a pioneer of the American Chautauqua Movement, one of the greatest revival movements in United States history which flourished in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Founded by the Methodist Church, Lakeside is one of the few existing Chautauqua communities that remain and thrive today.

Marblehead
#6-62 The Keeper’s House – Built in 1822, this native limestone structure was the home of Benajah Wolcott, first keeper of the Marblehead Lighthouse (originally called the Sandusky Bay Light), and his second wife, Rachel Miller Wolcott. Benajah maintained the lighthouse from 1822 until his death ten years later. After Benajah’s passing the U.S. Government appointed Rachel as the keeper, making her the first female lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes. The building is the oldest known residence still standing in Ottawa County and is a fine example of a “hall-and-parlor house,” an early American home design.

Milan
#20-22 Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) – One of America’s most prolific and important inventors, Thomas Alva Edison was born in this house in 1847. Designed by his father, Samuel Edison, a shingle maker by trade, this small gabled brick cottage was built in 1841. Though the Edisons moved to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1854, when he was seven, Edison cherished the memories of his early boyhood here and acquired the home from his sister’s family in 1906. Edison’s daughter Madeleine Edison Sloane opened the home to the public as a memorial to the great inventor in 1947, the centennial of his birth. It became a registered National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Oak Harbor
#12-62 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area: A Feature of the Great Black Swamp – A dense swamp forest roughly the size of the state of Connecticut once stretched across this region of Ohio and Indiana. A remnant of ancient Lake Maumee, this dense, soggy flatland supported abundant waterfowl and wildlife, but blocked travel and settlement and remained largely uninhabited until it was cleared and drained for agriculture between 1860 and 1885. This marsh and other scatter remnants are all that remain of the Great Black Swamp. Managed for a variety of wetland wildlife, Magee is one of the premier bird watching sites in North America, with more than 300 species.

Port Clinton #2-62 Johnson’s Island – In 1861 the United States Army established a prisoner of war camp on Johnson’s Island, approximately 1 mile south of this point. The camp, which housed captured Confederate officers, was maintained until 1865 when it was dismantled. The camp cemetery contains the graves of 206 men who died as a result of disease, wounds, or by execution while incarcerated.

Put-in-Bay #9-62 South Bass Island Light – Constructed and first lit in 1897, the South Bass Island Light was in continuous operation until 1962 when the U. S. Coast Guard built an automated light tower to replace it. Significant for its contribution to transportation and commerce on Lake Erie, the South Bass Island Light was built to safely guide vessels through the crowded South Passage. Although many light stations were constructed with a dwelling as a separate structure, the keeper’s dwelling of the South Bass Light was attached to the 60-foot tower. The dwelling was designed in the Queen Anne style with red brick laid in Flemish bond. Outbuildings, a barn and oil house, were built in 1899. In 1967, The Ohio State University acquired the property for support of the F. T. Stone Laboratory programs for research, education, and outreach. South Bass Island Light was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Sandusky #17-22 Cedar Point – Cedar Point became a popular beach resort in the late 1870s, when visitors traveled to the peninsula by steamboat from Sandusky. The Grand Pavilion (1888), the oldest building in the park, dates from this era. Promoter George Boeckling formed the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company in 1897 and vastly expanded the resort’s attractions. During the first decade of the 1900s, he built the lagoons, an amusement circle, and several hotels, including the landmark Breakers in 1905. The Coliseum, opened in 1906, became the centerpiece of the park and hosted many of the famous big bands through the Depression and World War II years. In the late 1950s, Cedar Point began its transformation into a modern amusement park.

You can read more about Ohio’s historical markers and find a complete list of them at http://www.remarkableohio.org/. A lot of visitors make a hobby out of seeking out historical markers during their vacations. Which ones do you want to check out?

Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay indoor waterpark resort features liquid fun for the whole family in a tropical island setting. Adventures include a wave pool, water coaster, slides, kiddie water play areas, and children’s activities, including a visit from Snoopy and his PEANUTS friends. The resort also has a state-of-the-art arcade, restaurants, and retail shops. Overnight guests also enjoy early entry and ticket discounts for Cedar Point, in-season.

Great Wolf Lodge is an all-suites, indoor waterpark resort designed with family fun in mind. With rides and slides for kids of all ages, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Great Wolf Lodge also features a spacious outdoor pool, arcade, MagiQuest live-action adventure, preforming Great Clock Tower, and Scooops Kid Spa.

Experience the time of your life with everything under one roof at Kalahari Resort. Indoor body boarding 365 days a year in 86 degree temperatures, or take on the Zip Coaster uphill water roller coaster in America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark. Pamper yourself at Spa Kalahari or dine at one of 11 dining and bar choices including The Reserve, Ivory Coast Lounge, Pizza Pub at Café Mirage, Great Karoo Marketplace Restaurant, and in the summer months, ZanziBar. For shopping and fun, there’s Zakanaka Kids; Madagascar Indoor Glow Golf; and Safari Outdoor Adventure Park with zip line; rope course; climbing wall; and an animal park. Catch some rays at the outdoor pools from Memorial Day-Labor Day (weather permitting). Once you cross over the bridge, you’ll feel “A World Away ®.”

Rain indoor waterpark offers a smaller setting with thrill slides and water play – featuring a 50-foot tower with two giant slides (275 and 251 feet long), a play structure with additional water activities and an outdoor pool. As the name indicates, waterpark guests are frequently showered with rain. The complex also includes a 32-lane state-of-the-art bowling center, arcade, great eats, and off-track betting in the exciting atmosphere of horse racing. In all, Rain features more than 3,500 sq. ft. of affordable family fun, all under one roof.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands (Port Clinton, Ohio specifically) is known as the Walleye Capital of the World. Fishing enthusiasts know that some of the best walleye catches come from a hole cut through several feet of ice on a frozen Lake Erie. The fishing community is abuzz about the record size and number of walleye being caught so far this ice-fishing season. But don’t go it alone. Experienced fishing guides are available to teach you the ropes and assist with on-ice safety measures.

On Ohio’s north coast, we’re all about Lake Erie Love. We love our Great Lake, our islands, our neighborhoods, our friendly people, and our natural resources. Groups of all types including family reunions, student groups, senior groups, military reunions, and motorcoach tours, love visiting for the variety of activity options offered.

The group sales team at Lake Erie Shores & Islands works closely with a number of local attraction, dining, and hotel partners to make planning easy. Here are the Top Ten activities that have appeared most often on group itineraries and have received rave reviews.

Island Tour Train – This island tour gives groups a guided tour of Put-in-Bay and includes stops at many of the island’s most visited attractions.

Winery Tour/NorthCoast Grapevine Tours – Groups love touring and tasting the many wineries on the Lake Erie Shores & Islands wine trail. Northcoast Grapevine Tours offers a safe and educational way for smaller groups to make a day of it.

Downtown Sandusky Historical Tour – This popular itinerary includes the Follett House, Cooke-Dorn Historic Site, and a driving tour of local Underground Railroad sites.

Tour and talk at Sandusky Greenhouse – Sometimes scheduled in conjunction with the downtown Sandusky historical tour or with one of Sandusky’s museums, this horticultural tour gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to maintain Sandusky’s lovely floral gardens and many tropical plants.

Merry-Go-Round Museum – Group visitor’s young and young-at-heart enjoy a spin on the carousel and the lively band organ music at the Merry-Go-Round Museum. Tours include this history of carousels and carousel art, wood carving demonstrations, gift shop, and more.

Ferguson Gallery – The highlight of a visit to the gallery of master glass cutter Cary S. Ferguson is a glass blowing demonstration and the opportunity to create your own paper weight.

Marblehead Lighthouse/Keeper’s House – The oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes has been welcoming visitors since 1822. Complement a visit to this majestic lighthouse with a stop at the nearby Keeper’s House, the oldest surviving home in the area and home of first three original keepers of the light.

Edison Birthplace/Milan Museum – Be inspired when visiting the birthplace of invention! Groups tour Thomas Edison’s boyhood home which includes a collection of early inventions and family mementos. Then, within the same quaint village block the Milan Museum gives visitors a glimpse into the past with historical exhibits, antique toys, and a renowned glass collection.

Walleye Madness at Midnight
Downtown, N. Madison St., Port Clinton
3 pm-12 am
Free
Where else can you see a 20-foot, 600-pound walleye drop from the sky at Midnight? This annual event will provide fun and excitement for the whole family! Stay up-to-date with events, vendors, and new entertainment on the Facebook page “Walleye Madness at Midnight.”

A New Year’s Eve Celebration
Chez Francois/Touche’ Wine Bar, 555 Main St., Vermilion
440.967.0630
There will be three sittings: 4:30-6:30 pm, 7-9 pm, and 9:45 pm. Each seating will feature a multi-course dinner. The last seating will feature Mr. Mike Moore with an atmosphere for dancing. Note that availability of the last seating is extremely limited. Reservations are required.

New Year’s Eve Party
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, 3319 Milan Rd. (US 250), Sandusky
419.626.4467
8 pm
Families, kids, teens…everyone is welcome to celebrate on the skating rink! Choose from two party packages: $10 includes skate admission, skate rental, NYE party favors, one slice of pizza & a small pop or $20 VIP includes skate admission, choice rental of skates, scooter or rollerblades, NYE party favors, 12 game tokens, two slices of pizza & a large pop, and choice of one admission to Mini Golf, 4D Theater, or Ghostly Manor Haunted House.

New Year’s Eve Cabaret
Bellevue Society for the Arts, 205 Maple St., Bellevue
419.484.2787
7 pm
This New Year’s Eve event will feature Broadway standards and novelty songs performed by familiar BSA faces. The menu includes pork and sauerkraut, tossed salad, applesauce, and dessert, as well as a cash bar featuring a selection of beer and wine. Must be 21 or older with valid ID to purchase alcoholic beverages. Reservations are required.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to get together and give thanks over delicious food. Although many people enjoy home cooked meals and large family gatherings, others want to get away and let someone else handle the cooking. Avoid the hassle this holiday season and indulge at one of these eight Lake Erie Shores & Islands Thanksgiving Day feasts!

Great Wolf Lodge – Thanksgiving Dinner (1:30-6:45 pm)
This is a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings! $19.99/person. Open to hotel guests first; reservations are strongly encouraged.

Kalahari Resort – Thanksgiving Buffet (11 am-6 pm)
Experience the holiday season at Kalahari Resort; indulge in a traditional Thanksgiving Day buffet, create new family traditions, participate in fun family activities, and enjoy wild waterpark thrills. $25.99/adult (13 and up), $10.99/child (4-12), children 3 and under are free. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Menu.

Lake Erie Shores & Islands would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! If you are aware of other locations that are open on Thanksgiving Day, please feel free to add them by commenting on the post below.